Adjustable wrench



Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES v 1,720,650 PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMINE H. PURDY, 0F DOUGLAS, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS T0 CARL MCGREGOR AND C. A. WATSON, BOTH OF WINFIELD, KANSAS.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

Application filed December 22, 1927.

The invention relates to a hand tool or wrench of the type employed by mechanics and others for purposes usually accomplished by the well known monkey-wrench, or other wrenches of similar character. Most wrenches are adjustable by means of screw means which cause the jaws to be moved from or towards each other. The wrench shown in the present invention has adjustment features permitted not only to the jaws themselves, but also permits the handle to be adjustably positioned, so that the best or preferred position of the jaw with respect to the handle may be had or in other words a wrench designed to engage a nut from any position, and of any size within reasonable limits.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 snows a face view of the wrench as set to engage a nut that would fit between its jaws; the dotted position of the handle illustrating a release of the parts to permit specified adjustments. Fig. 2 is a side view of the tool at the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary side of the tool at the right of Fig. 1. Fig. t is a view similar to that indicated by the dotted arrangement of parts in Fig. 1 to show operation of the depressed lever for releasing the handle for adjustment purposes; and also for the release of the saw teeth locking means for permitting adjustable movement and slipping of the sliding jaw for adjustable spacing of the sliding jaw and stationary aw to accommodate a desired sized nut. Fig. 5 is a side view of the plate carrying the posts associated with the adjustment features; while, Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of the perforated plate which engages the posts of Fig. 5. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings; at 10 is seen the steel handle of my improved wrench, having a hole at the base thereof to permit the wrench to be hung from a hook or other means if desired. The sides of the handle are thickened at 12 to better fitthe hand. At 13 is seen the stationary jaw member of the combination having the flat face portion 14 against which one face of a nut will rest. The back 15 is rounded for a distance and a rectangular slot 16 is formed through the part 13 as clearly seen in Fig. 2 and for purposes later explained. To the right of Fig. 1 it will be noted that the part 13 projects as at Serial No. 241,868.

13 while the side view Fig. 3 shows a companion projection 13*. The parts 13 and 13 of the part 153 are formed by slotting the part 13 inwardly intermediate the parts 1Z3 and 13 towards the face 11.. The part 13 is grooved at 1.3". An opening 17 for-med through the middle of the stationary jaw element from front to baclr. The sides 1S19 are preferably parallel, while the ends 20 and 21 may be curved or rounded as desired. Below the opening 17 will be seen the notched elements 22 of the paired lower elements of the part 13 seen at 13 and 13 which have been likewise formed. by the same inward slot as formed the parts 13 and 13 The several notches 22 occur in series on either the part 13 or the part- 13" and form an arc of a circle in effect for purposes later explained.

The sliding jaw 23 has a. face element 2% preferably positioned facing the part 14 of the stationary jaw and moveable from or towards the same for securing the desired spacing 1at24 to accommodate a desired sized nut. Now to move this face 2 in. this manner requires a lower rectangular shaped base 25 slidably arranged within the slotted passage 16 which it fits; a rib 25 on the side of the element 25 Fig. 3 engages within the groove 13 to give a wider bearing support for the engagement of the parts 25 and 13 in the sliding adjustable arrangement required. The parts 14 and 24 serve as jaws to clamp a nut as in ordinary practice. It will now be disclosed how they are locked for such purpose. A long rectangular slot 26 is made through the part 25 and the lower side of the slot 26 is formed as a series of saw toothed notches 27. Referring to Fig. 5 will be seen the plate 28 rounded at its ends 29 and 30 couforn'iing to the ends 20 and 21 of the part or opening l7. The plate 28 is not as long as the opening 17 but nicely fits therein while allowing for endwise movements of said plate between the sides 18 and 19 of said opening. At the lower end of the plate 30 a stud 31 of circular cross section projects outwardly and terminates in slightly smaller pin portion 31. At the top of the plate 28 and on the same side as the stud 31 is another stud element of same height as the stud 31 but instead of being round it has three straight sides 333%35 and the lower side 36 is of a saw toothed face character adapted as in Fig. 1 to engage the teeth 27 of the member 25 while raised from the engagement of the teeth as in Fig. 4 the e a (in member 25 may be slid back and forth for adjustment purposes.- The upper end of the handle 10 is notched at the left as in Figs. 1 and 1- at 37 which notches in Fig. 1 engage with the notches 22 wherever applied. The right hand portion 38 is formed straight since the edges 39 are straight and under certain conditions of adjustment the handle may be swung clear around so that the edges 38 would contact the edges 39 or so that the aws 1 l-24 would be arranged substantially at right angles to the handle 10 instead of in prolongation thereto as in 1.

The attachment of the handle to the remainder of the tool is accomplished as follows; a. slot 10 see Fig. 2 between the upper parts 37-38 and 31-38, Fig. 1 receives a. lever 41 which pivots on the pin -12. A coiled spring 4-3 normally positions the lever as in Fig. 1; the hole 4-ithrough the upper end of the lever 41 has received the pin 31 during the assembly of the tool. the ever 41 being for the purpose upwardly arranged within the slot intermediate the parts 13 and 13". The spring t?) has caused the teeth 37 to engage the teeth 22 and in the process the teeth 36 have been drawn down to engage the teeth 27 since the spring action has pulled the plate 28 downwardly. Now when. the spring is depressed at 43 Fig. i the action is reversed, the plate 28 moves upwardly between the side walls 18 and 19 and the teeth 36 disengage from the teeth 27 and at the same time the teeth 37 are removed from engagement to the notches 22. The handle is moved to any desired position and the jaws engaged with the desired nut. Then the spring a3 is released to assume the position 45-; and thereby l e-engage the teeth 36 on 2? and the teeth 37 on notches 22 in their new positionings. Then a force upon the handle in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1 will be" trai'ismitted through. the teeth 37 to the notches- 22 and the jaw 23 being anchored by the teeth. 36'2T to the 13 will allow the nut to be unscrewed in the customary way; the handle 10 in Fig. 1 may move towards the dotted position 1O just as a ratchet operates,- this permits a quiclr change of the handle position. Capping the pins 31- and 32 by means of the perforated plate seen-in Fig. 6 completes the assembly; the pin portion 32 is preferably made square in section to lit the square hole 32 of the plate 4-4,. while the hole 31*. fits the pin 31 The plate 44: is similar to the plate portion 28 and slides between the walls 18 and 19 as a part of the combination when the heads of the pins 31- and 32- are riveted upon the plate to lock the tool together.

It is obvious that the tool has many and varied uses and that its quick adjustment of spacing between the faces 14 and 2st and like wise its quick disengagement for reassemblin g of the parts 37 and 22 make it of extreme use and advantage to the user thereof.

Such modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I H

1. A. wrench of the class described having a handle member, a. lever pivoted thereto. a spring intermediate the lever and handle; a slotted main jaw element, and a slidable member carrying pins, one of said pins engaging the lever; a slotted auxiliary aw element slidably arranged in the main element, a pin of the slidable member arranged within the slotted aw element and having a toothed face ijletachably engageable with a toothed face of said slot. I

2. A wrench of the class described having a handle, a lever pivoted at one end thereof and spring actuated; a slotted main jaw element receiving the lever, a plateelem-ent carrying pins arranged in the main element, one of said pins passing a hole in the lever for engaging purposes; a slotted auxiliary aw elen'ient slidably arranged in the main member and passing another pin on the plate element, and means including teeth elements for detachahly engaging for purposes specified.

3. A wrench of the class described includin a handle. a spring actuated lever pivotally attached at one end of said handle; a slotted main jaw element having a notched arc face portion positioned adjacent a notched element of the handle; a slidable plate carrying pin-s arranged to be permitted adjusted sliding movements within the perforated opening of the main element one of said pins hingedly connecting to the lever. said spring normally actuating the lever to draw the notched handle and notched main member together for locked wrench positionings; a slotted auxit iary jaw element slidably arranged within the main element and a notched portion thereof receiving a notched pin on the slidable plate; the lever and spring means permitting and disengaged positionings of said pin with said slot and whereby adjusted positions of the handle and main jaw member as well as of the main jaw member to the auxiliary jaw member may be had for the purposes of the invention.

1. In a wrench, aslotted main aw member, a slotted auxiliary jaw member slidably connected thereto, and having a toothed edge portion. a plate carrying a pin having teeth for engaging and disengaging said'toothed edge, said plate being slidably housed within the main member; and lever means and a handle pivoted thereto and means connectiu g said lever to the plate and spring means for clamping the handle to the main member and the toothed pin to the slotted auxiliary mem her for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BENJAMINE H. PURDY; 

